Al-Ghazali

Philosopher

Born: 1058

Died: 1111

Birthplace: Khorasan, Iran

Best known as: Medieval Islamic philosopher and theologian

Born in eastern Iran, Abu Hamid al-Ghazali was known as Islam's most gifted scholar. He taught law in Baghdad, but in 1095 resigned and for 12 years wandered the desert as a Sufi mystic. Al-Ghazali is considered the most influential Islamic philosopher of the medieval period, known for reviving mysticism and critiquing rationalism within orthodox Islam. In 1106 he returned to teaching, the most renowned Islamic theologian of his time. His most famous books are Tuhafat al-Falasifa (The Incoherence of the Philosophers) and Ihya al-'Ulum al-Islamia (The Revival of the Religious Sciences).

Extra credit: He is referred to sometimes in western literature as Algazel.